How you can help with Mississippi Tornado Relief Efforts:
Currently, volunteer opportunities are opening up in various locations across Mississippi. In both Tupelo and Louisville, volunteer check-in sites have opened up to register volunteers, assist them in completing the required volunteer paper work, and inform them of important safety information. Never enter a disaster area without the assistance of a local agency.
To stay up-to-date on volunteer opportunities throughout the state, please sign up through the Volunteer Mississippi website as individual opportunities to help emerge http://tinyurl.com/m342gul. To get continuous updates on local volunteer efforts, you can also register through the Maroon Volunteer Center at: https://orgsync.com/61380/opportunities/775403
If you are looking for ways you can help, see the information below:
In Louisville, MS:
⢠A volunteer registration center is now open in the parking lot of the Louisville Coliseum, 201 Ivy Ave in Louisville. Those wishing to volunteer must visit the registration center to fill out required paper work so you can be used most effectively in the area in need. DO NOT enter a disaster area without registering. For more information, visit the MEMA website at: http://www.msema.org/volunteer-and-donation-center/ or call: (662) 773-7896.
⢠Anyone wanting to volunteer to help in Louisville, do not self-deploy. Register on the Volunteer MS website at: http://tinyurl.com/m342gul or visit mvc.msstate.edu
⢠A donations warehouse is set up at the Louisville/Winston County Coliseum, 201 Ivy Ave, Louisville, MS 39339.Needs in Louisville include toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, towels, wash clothes, soap, shampoo, hand soap, blankets, sheets, pillows, pillow cases, wipes, diapers, tarps, gallon jugs of water to flush toilets, disinfectant, band aids, bandages, and peroxide. Drop off locations are: Winston County Coliseum at 201 Ivy Ave, First Baptist Church at 205 S Church Ave, and United Methodist Church on W. Main St. Louisville. Clothing donations are no longer needed in Winston County.
⢠To make financial contributions to Winston County Tornado Relief by mail: Winston Community Development, P.O. Box 551, Louisville, MS.
In Starkville, MS:
⢠Southwire is hosting a supply drive to benefit people affected by the Louisville tornadoes at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Starkville on Friday, May 2, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday, May 3, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Items needed include paper goods, cleaning supplies, snack food items, blankets, beverages, ready-to-eat food and ice chests and coolers. Call 770-832-4729 for additional information.
⢠The local Army Navy Store in Starkville is collecting non-perishable food, drinking water, cloth towels, baby formula, and other necessities of life for Louisville families. The Oktibbeha County Incident Command has designated the Army Navy Store as a drop-off point for disaster relief supplies. They are on Highway 12, about 1/4 mile west of the railroad crossing near Lindbergh Blvd.
⢠The local Salvation Army is accepting donations of food, water, toiletries, diapers, and blankets. Their address is 407A Industrial Park Rd 39759. Donations will be accepted 9:00a.m.-4:30p.m.
⢠Local merchants are accepting donations of water, food, tarps, rakes and work gloves. You can drop off items at the following locations: Thyme, Strange Brew Coffeehouse, Juva Juice, The Veranda Restaurant, 929 Coffee, Sprout, LA Green, Midtown Pilates, and the Marketplace at Perry at MSU.
⢠Barnes and Noble at Mississippi State University is collecting donations of personal care products such as shampoo, toothbrushes, toilet paper, and home cleaning products such as paper towels and trash bags. They are located at the Cullis Wade Depot on the MSU Campus.
⢠There will be a pet food and supply drive in Starkville for Winston County and Louisville. The drop off will be at Starkville Glass & Paint, 110 Willow Road off Highway 12. They are open 8-5 daily. Needed items include dog/puppy/cat/kitten canned and dry food, leashes and collars, pet medicines for worming and injuries, puppy pads, crates, and towels.
⢠OSERVS is collecting baby wipes, baby food and formulas, handy wipes and hand sanitizer, disposable plates, plastic spoons and forks, towels, bath rags, and sheet sets. Clothing comes in by truckloads and is not something needed at this time. They are located at: 501 Highway 12 West or call 384-2200.
In Columbus, MS:
⢠WCBI will be gathering supplies for tornado victims and recovery workers this week. They will have a trailer stationed at the Malco on Highway 45 in Columbus to collect bottled water and sports drinks, cleaning supplies, diapers and personal hygiene products. The supplies will be delivered to the Salvation Army offices in Tupelo and Columbus. They are also requesting volunteers. For more information visit: http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/wcbi-relief-drive-underway and contact: Brennan at: bdulaney@wcbi.com
In Tupelo, MS:
⢠Beginning Saturday, May 3, 2014, the United Way will be set up at the Tupelo Convention and Visitorâs Bureau as a check-in point for all volunteers and volunteer groups. The Tupelo CVB is located at 399 East Main Street in Tupelo, Mississippi. Volunteer coordinators will be at the CVB Volunteer Check-In beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday to provide you with safety information as well as information on how and where you can help. We ask that you please register with the United Way before you begin the clean-up effort so that individuals and groups may be directed to the most critical areas of need, informed regarding safe areas for participation and to complete volunteer registration/participation forms. For more information contact: United Way of Greater Northeast Mississippi: www.unitedwaynems.org or call 662-841-9133.
⢠Non-perishable food items and cleaning supplies are needed at the United Way donation site at 1031 South Green Street site. This is the central collection point for the storm and request that all donations be directed to this site. The site is managed by Lee County and staffed mainly by the United Way volunteers. The site is open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Those donations can be coordinated by calling 662.871.2819. Those who are in need of these items may also call 662.871.2819.
⢠The Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the United Way are in need of donations to assist in the recovery efforts as well as volunteers. Contact information is as follows:
o Red Cross Northeast Mississippi Chapter: www.redcross.org or call 662-842-6101
o Salvation Army: www.salvationarmy.org or call 662-680-2769
o United Way of Greater Northeast Mississippi: www.unitedwaynems.org or call 662-841-9133
Central, MS:
⢠Anyone wanting to volunteer to help, do not self-deploy. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/m342gul
⢠The Salvation Army in Jackson is taking donations for Pearl tornado victims. You can drop donations off at the Trustmark Park from May 1st through the 4th.
Noxapater, MS:
⢠Item donations are being received for Noxapater victims at the Mars Hill Volunteer Fire Department at 4233 Mars Hill Road, Philadelphia, MS 39350, 601-567-2105.
For more information on disaster relief efforts, please visit http://www.mvc.msstate.edu or visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MaroonVolunteerCenter or Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/MaroonVolunteer.